The reluctant Senator proved he is also worthy of an 'A' for Arrogant and 'P' for Pompous with all the whining he did on a conference call late last week.

Right now, without further delay, his 'A' should officially be removed. If not dramatically ripped off with threads flying everywhere during a ceremony at Parliament Hill, at least quietly by the Senators' Chris Cook in his equipment office at Scotiabank Place.

Dany Heatley doesn't need that 'A' on his sweater. He has one permanently tattooed on his chest, right above the spot that those with a backbone have a heart.

If the Sharks can strip Patrick Marleau of his 'C' in August for no apparent reason other than the fact they didn't win with him as their captain in May, the Senators should have lifted the 'A' off No. 15's jersey in June, when Heatley formally asked to be traded.

If in fact they didn't, it should immediately be done in the aftermath of what had to be the first press conference, controlled or otherwise, held by a guy who calls himself a "team player" to tell the world he wants to be traded because the team isn't playing him as much as he would like.

Aren't you still snickering at that one?

What a contradicting suck hole.

By the way, what did Friday's performance get Heatley, other than recognition as the Most Despised Senator ever? Only anguish, hopefully.

If he's a lot smarter than we think, Heatley came off as a jerk in an attempt to expedite a deal. But it says here GM Bryan Murray should put an abrupt end to any trade talks now, before they even become close to reality.

Screw 'em, Bryan. Stop spending the 1-2 hours a day you say you are talking to other GMs about Heatley. He's a goal scorer. Your team needs one of his ilk. Either tell him to shut the hell up and show up to play, or ignore him all together. Heatley is under contract. Who gives a rat's ass that he says?

Heatley is going to play his guts out when the NHL season starts, no matter what sweater he's wearing. He wants nothing more than to be on the Olympic team. If it was another year, you'd fret. But don't be surprised if he has 30 goals by this Christmas. Why would you trade that? Because he wants you to?

Screw 'em.

What Heatley wants shouldn't really matter. Other NHLers, and even former players, are actually aghast at his audacity. He wants "options?"

Options?????

"I don't know if Dany realizes this," one veteran said the other day, "but he's not an unrestricted free agent."

No, he's not. He gave up that right when he signed a $45-million US deal for the privilege to play six years in Ottawa, 22 months ago. Who the hell does he think he is now?

Heatley wants to pick from the team off his "list" who free up cap space and dump prospects and draft picks to acquire the two-time quitter that he is. So if Detroit, San Jose, Los Angeles and New York all make offers, Murray is supposed to ask Dany Boy which of them HE wants to play for? What if it's not the best offer on the table?

If Murray is taking the second- or third- or fourth-best offer for a former 50-goal scorer because that's where the former 50-goal scorer wants to play, then it's time to get rid of Murray. He has to pull in the absolute best possible return for the organization. If he is going to trade Dany Heatley because Dany Heatley says he wants to be traded, he should be waiting until he is "wowed" by an offer. Otherwise, he should stand pat.

All this talk about an unhappy Heatley being a disturbance in the dressing room ... I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the whole "distraction" thing. Did the Senators lose games because they were thinking about Ray Emery being late for practice? No. Are they going to go into the crapper because Heatley didn't get his trade wish? Of course not.

And if he is a negative force in the dressing room, if he doesn't give it everything he has on the ice, in practice and games, Chris Neil will take care of him.

Are you kidding? Heatley, who skates away from pretty much any and every conflict on the ice, would wilt under the menacing glare of The Neiler.

If not, give No. 25 a couple of minutes alone with No. 15.

His father or one of his two high-profile agents, J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine, should have given Heatley a stern lecture the moment he mentioned he was going to pull this stunt.

Now that this thing is to the point it is, the talking should be over.

Cease with the trade discussions, Bryan. You have a guy that once scored 50. Hang on to him. If he's ever going to do it again, this is the season.